Happy Monday Evening to you! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This weekend, @TheWelshWookie and I spent time at Portavadie Marina, one of our favourite places. Lucky us! We treated ourselves to lunch and a couple of cocktails, and had a lovely, relaxing time. We also had a sneak peek at the leisure facility – and it’s really coming along! Roll on next summer so that I can test out the pools, the gym and the treadmill 😉
Here’s a little something for your new week ahead:
Have a good week!
I Â mentioned yesterday that @TheWelshWookie and I had been to one of our very favourite places on Saturday: Portavadie Marina.
We were looking for any excuse, really, to take a trip on the new hybrid ferry, MV Lochinvar 😉 What better excuse than to go for lunch – and celebrate World Gin Day – at Portavadie!
The weather was absolutely beautiful: it was gloriously sunny as we strolled down to the ferry terminal. We popped into a few shops on the way, buying  bottle of white grape & elderflower presse for adding to gin later on in the evening.
The first thing we noticed about the new ferry was how quiet she was! The engine, being a hybrid, merely purred, making for such a pleasant journey. The interior lounge has much more seating than before, and there are two observation areas with seating on the upper decks. Impressive!
We arrived at Portavadie, and walked around to the marina. We saw that construction is now under way on the leisure complex: I can’t wait until the pool and its facilities are built!
As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by Chris, who’s service is always fantastic. We took a seat on the sofas while we perused the lunch menu, and ordered a Botanist gin each. Oh, my. It’s definitely my absolute favourite gin of the moment: it’s from Islay, which is much more famous for its whisky. We had a chat with Ian, the General Manager, and it was so great to hear of the future plans for Portavadie: it’s exciting times ahead!
When we were ready we were seated for lunch. Most of the other guests had opted to sit outside, but I much prefer to eat indoors (I’m weird, I know). I had the smoked haddock with mustard potato salad and pancetta crisp; @TheWelshWookie had Tarbert scallops with black pudding and roasted potatoes. Both were -ma-zing!
 
Of course, we also had dessert. I had a white chocolate mousse with mini toffee apples and raspberry sorbet; @TheWookie had pineapple crumble with coconut ice cream. Yum.
 
After taking a stroll around the marina, having a look in the shop (of course), we had another G&T before heading home on the ferry.
We had a fabulous day, as ever!
Did you celebrate World Gin Day on Saturday? Do you prefer to eat indoors or outdoors?
While @TheWelshWookie and I were in Portavadie last week, we headed out for a run. On our way, we ran past the General Manager, Iain, who shouted after us that we were putting everyone else to shame! 🙂
Having said that, we only had a very short run. But it was great, to blow the cobwebs away.
Here were the views:
I took a picture of that particular boat because it was called Dignity. And, to reach Portavadie, someone had obviously ‘sailed her up the West Coast’. If there are any Deacon Blue fans out there, you’ll know how cool that is!
During our recent trip to Portavadie, Â we spent the afternoon visiting Argyll’s Ghost Village, Polphail.
During the late ’60s/early ’70s, Scotland was in the midst of the North Sea Oil boom. And, deep water was needed for the construction of oil rigs. As Loch Fyne is a particularly deep sea loch, some folks thought that it would be an ideal site for constructing these platforms.
And so, money was invested and a whole village, Polphail, was built near Tighnabruaich to house the workers.
But the work never materialised.
And the village was never inhabited.
Now, it lies in ruins, a weird blot on the picturesque, wild, west coast landscape.
But, I love it!
@TheWelshWookie and I visited it with my parents, and with my nephew Ryan. We had a great day, adventuring!
Would you like to see some pictures?
Back to tonight: I’ve done 20 minutes on the treadmill, 15 minutes on the rower and my plank-a-day. Today’s a rest day from the squat challenge 😉
Have you visited any derelict buildings or places?
Happy Hogmanay!
And a Happy New Year too!
Portavadie Marina is a fantastic hidden gem nestled on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll. Conveniently for us, it is also a very short ferry ride away from Tarbert!
It features a wide range of accommodation: bed and lockers: bunk rooms for cyclists and walkers, lodge rooms (which are like good hotel rooms) , secluded cottage for honeymooners and couples and luxury apartments for friends and families who want a little more space and luxe while away.
The marina has excellent facilities, and there is a top notch restaurant, while the lodge has a more relaxed restaurant and family area. There’s a spa, and a shop which sells everything from milk and newspapers to high end clothing and chandlery supplies.
I love it!
We’ve visited many times, often for lunch and a few drinks; sometimes ourselves, other times with friends and family. We celebrated @TheWelshWookie’s 40th Birthday here, too.
And now we’re back; gatecrashing the honeymoon, and welcoming in the New Year at the Hogmanay Gala Dinner.
Lucky us! 🙂
WiFi and mobile signal is patchy, so I’ll check in when I can!
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